Phrasal-Adjectives – Letter U (With Prepositions)

– Prepositional Adjectival Phrases – Letter U –

Uu

(to be) Beat Up – This is an Idiomatic and Prepositional Adjectival Phrase which is used to describe someone’s or something’s condition. When two people get into a physical fight with the intent of actually hurting each other, usually the loser is “beat up”… So to describe someone or something as “beat up” means that he, she, or it is in a bad condition and is in need of repair. – (See Also: “Beat Up” [phrasal verb]) – Or… Read Full Post Here

(to be) Under The Weather – This is an IdiomaticPrepositional Adjectival Phrase used to describe when a person is not feeling very well, but is not necessarily sick from any virus or bacterial infection. The phrase comes from the fact that many people feel this way when there is a drastic change in the weather – such as when the seasons change. However, this phrase is often used by people as reason for not wanting to go to work

(to be) Up-And-Coming – This is an idiomatic phrasal adjective which is usually used to describe a person but can also be used to describe a company or group, which is young/new/fresh, etc. when that “person” seems to be very clever or talented beyond the average level, and is expected to do very well or produce much in whatever field he or it is in… “In the late 1990s Claude was nothing more than an *up-and-coming* drum’n’bass DJ & MC, but now, it’s clear that he will ultimately end of completely reforming the way that the English language is both taught and learned.”

(to be) Up–And-Running – This is an idiomatic adjectival phrase which is used to mean: functioning (“up”) and currently working; in operation (“running”)… “After months and months of work he finally got his business *up and running*.”

(to be) Up-Coming – This is an idiomatic phrasal adjective which is used to describe something which will be happening in the “near” (relative term) future. The reason it is used is to say that it is already planned, possibly scheduled and/or is highly anticipated… “George Lukas better hope that the *up-coming* Star Wars is as good as the previous movies, otherwise he’s going to need more than the Millennium Falcon and a bit of help from the Jedis to save his ass from the die-hard fans who are already pissed that he sold-out to Disney.”

(to be) Up-In-Arms – This is an Idiomatic Prepositional Adjectival Phrase which is used to describe the condition of being so very upset, frustrated, disappointed, etc. and because of the absurdity of the situation, to be amazed by it. The phrase comes from the fact that in this situation, a lot of people actually (literally) throw their arms up in the air.